Aeroplane



June 26, 1923.

E. GoonlN AEHOPLANE original Filed Feb. 8. 1922 Patented .inne 26, 1923.

EDWARD L. GOUDEN, OF COPELAND, ARKANSAS, ASSEGNO?, OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE' tea N,

is. Mr wirr., or cnnnfritnn, Annemans.

nnnorriinn Original applcatonled February 8, r1922,` Serial No. 534,946. Divided and this application `iiled October 28, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.' y

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. GooniN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Copeland, in the county of Van Buren and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `fieroplanes, of which the following is a vspecifi"- cation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, and more particularly to an iin`- provement in 'the guiding tail structure thereof, this application forming a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 534,946, filed February 8, 1922, for improvements in aeroplanes.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved tail structure for guiding an aeroplane or the like whereby the movement of the plane' is iniiuenced by warping the tail structure after the manner of the movement of the tail of a bird and in substantial imitation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is readily operated and by means of which a combined turning and banking movement of the plane may be caused.

These and other objects I 'attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout. i

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of an aeroplane embodying a tail structure constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan showing the tail structure; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the manner of warping the saine to obtain banking and change of direction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the bod. or fuselage of an aeroplaneand 11 the tail structure pivotally mounted at the rear end thereof. The tail structure is in the form of a horizontal frame 12 in# creasing in width' rearwardly so thaty the rear edge thereof, as indicated at 13, is of considerably greater width than the forward edge 14. The connection between the Serial No. 597,657.

front and rear cross members of the' frame 12 `with the side members thereof is such. as toy permit independent elevation ef either of the side members.

The numeral 15 designates fuselage supported braces to which are centrally pivoted the head portions 16 of ishaped control members, the leg portions 17 of which are secured to the adjacent side members of the tail structure. `Within the fuselage 1() I pivotally mount a pair of control members` 18 corresponding1 to the KiV-shaped control members hereinbefore described in arrangement. opposite sides of the pivots thereof i connectcontrol wires 19, and the rear ends of these control wires are connected to corresponding points upon the head of the T- shaped control members so that movement' ofthe control members 18 within the fuse lage about their pivots willrcause a correspending movement of the l`shaped control members upon the supports 15.

. In the use of the tail structure hereinbe .'io these control members at fore described, if it is desired to bank, for

Vexample to the right in making a right turn,

chine, the pedals are both actuatedto ele` vate or depress the tail as the case may be, one of the pedals being further actuated than the other to give the desired banking edect. i

F rom the foreging it will be obvious that the operation of the machine is under a control similarly to the manner of control employedby' soaring birds, such as large hawks,ieagles and buzzards. These fowls ieX the tail in substantially the same manner as hereinbefore set forth yduring their soaring operations, heading into the current of air and obtaining an elevation desired by the manipulation `of the tail. order that the entire strain of maintaining the tail in adjusted positions may not fall `ice upon the operator, the guides 29 are preferabl'y in the forni of spacedheaded elements 29 having a spring` pressed plate 29h mounted 'thereon and bearing against the iexible controls QSbinding theinbetween the plate and the associated portion o the fuselage.

From the foregoing it is believed te be obvious that a tail structure and control therefor such as described is particularly `well adapted for use in thatit provides a flexibility of control 'from the tail otherwise impossible and at the sanne time greatly simplifies the tail structure When compared With others now 1n common use. It will I furthermorev be obvious that the structure as hereinbe'ore set forth isinore or less diagrammatic and capable of a large range rof alteration and n'iodicatlon Without Ina- `terially departing` from iny invention and Iaccordingly do not except as hereinafter I claim:-

lirnit myself thereto claimed.

In an aeroplane, vthe combination with ar warping normally horizontally disposed tail plane, of 'means for elevating or depressing either side of said plane embodying` side ineinbers for'said'plane,ipivoted T vlevers having thesterns thereof secured to said signature.

EDWARD L. GOODN. 

